Albion Strawberry Festival names royalty, poster winner
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The royalty for this weekend’s Albion Strawberry Festival were recognized during the Albion Rotary Club meeting on Thursday.
From left include princess Kinzie Healy, king Will Plummer, queen Julia Graham and princess Hazel Bringenbay.
They will be part of Saturday’s parade at 10 a.m. and will serve as festival ambassadors.
This year’s festival theme, “Gather and Celebrate: A Big Berry 250th in honor of our Nation’s 250th.” The royalty candidates were asked to write a 250-word reflection on the theme.
Plummer, a senior, wrote in his essay, “Albion’s rich history and small-town character make it an ideal place to honor America’s past while looking forward to the future. Community events such as parades, historical exhibits, concerts and patriotic ceremonies can bring residents together in a spirit of gratitude and remembrance.”
Graham, a sophomore, said Albion students have helped preserve historical sites and highlight other important local history, while also beautifying the town with murals and other projects. She praised festival organizers for putting on the 38th Strawberry Festival this weekend.
Kinzie Healy, an eighth-grader, said the festival is an opportunity to celebrate shared values of democracy, community and hope for the future. “When gathering on these historic streets we aren’t just eating strawberry desserts, we are honoring 250 years of a ‘berry’ big American journey,” she wrote.
Hazel Bringenbay, a fifth-grader, said the local parades, chicken barbecues and fireworks are all a great way to celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary.
Katelyn Viza, a sophomore at Albion, holds her first place poster that will be used on Strawberry Festival brochures and posters.
The second place winner is senior Rosalee McCormick, left, while freshman Bonnie Ward won third place.
Click here to see the festival schedule for June 12-13.
